Monday, February 15, 2010

Cars 2 Gets A Toon Up...

Now, before I begin I want to remind you that all films have bumps in the road on their way to the screen. The storied history "Ratatouille" being the one that comes closest to mind. But believe it or not, many Pixar films had problems in their development and some right up until the final year of production (ToyStory2 anyone?). So with that mentioned, on we go.

If you were to wonder the halls of the Hat Building right now you'd find something unusual. Something that hasn't happened in a good while. I'd say almost a couple of years. Each week you could usually find John Lasseter walking the halls at least once, more likely twice a week as he hurried from meeting to meeting before he headed off to Glendale or some other meeting. But the last month or so he's not been seen that much. And he won't be for another month or so. See, he's been stuck up in Emeryville working on "Cars2" so that it's ready for release next year. There have been story problems that have developed late last year and into the new year that needed to be addressed. So as of now, John is riding the film as co-director. Now, will he be listed in the credits as that when the film comes out? Not yet determined if he'll get his name up there with that label. We will see as time starts to move closer to the release date.

This doesn't mean doom and gloom for those that look for signs of the Apocalypse. It means that this film, like many before it, needed John's attention and this is a film that is still almost a year and a half out. Things have to be dealt with and his valuable talent was needed to adjust some of the plot points. All this really means is that the story will be better with him involved. So this is a tune up, not a wreck like some of the e-mails I've gotten were worried about.

/\ The re-naming had nothing to do with "story-problems" It was NEVER about the story. Get your facts straight, and more importantly, GET OVER IT. People need to stop acting like a 5-year old who didn't get a cookie.

"/\ The re-naming had nothing to do with "story-problems" It was NEVER about the story. Get your facts straight, and more importantly, GET OVER IT."

Uhm...

This article wasn't about the renaming of "Rapunzel" so I'm wondering if you meant to post it in the previous one?

"Honor; with all due respect, I think you have opened a Pandora's box."

Really? By reporting on the name change? Being disappointed in it? I think I've been pretty fair, I've said the name has nothing to do with the story which I hear is good. On the other hand, I don't just report on "happy, happy" information like I'm sometimes accused.

I love Disney, but I can sometimes disagree with them, even though their heart might be in the right place.

Dude, it seems this is about Cars 2. A Pixar film and more than likely it was those cats that released the info. So I guess they ain't following the philosophy either. What's next? Monsters 2, anyone? Will we ever see another original film from up north? Or have they lost that amazing spark?

Well, it's no surprise, since the first film had story problems that were blatantly obvious onscreen.

Cars bored me. REALLY bored me. And I never really bought the premise of talking cars living in a human-less world. It was the first really weak film from Pixar, and it took the edge off my enthusiasm for the studio.

There's no doubt that the sequel is being made simply because of its merchandising possibilities. Little boys love Cars, and that's great. But I won't be seeing the sequel.

Don'y really agree that JL should be the one stepping in to fix it, I know the first one was his baby project, but as noted before, there are other perfectly capable of helping out. Brad Bird comes to mind as someone who could do wonders to improve a project. Remember Ratatouille.

I think JL is spread too thin, WDI, Pixar, WAS. Eeither way, hope they can get cars2 back on track. But not by completely ignoring his other responsibilities.

"There have been story problems that have developed late last year and into the new year that needed to be addressed."

What the hell is wrong with Emeryville? They waited until about 18 months from Rat's release date to bring in Brad and retool the story. Now the same thing is happening with Cars2?

Haven't these people had enough experience with their features to see that a story is in trouble sooner than 18 months from release? It's not like these are new characters with no previous history. How can such award-winning professionals not notice these problems sooner? Freakin' unbelievable.

(Of course, one could easily argue that there were only minor story issues with the sequel that didn't require John's constant attention for two months straight, but he's using the opportunity to hide up in Emeryville to escape the fallout from an upcoming Burbank downsizing. Check out recent threads on the TAG blog about WDAS woes to see where such actions are quite plausible.)

This article wasn't about the renaming of "Rapunzel" so I'm wondering if you meant to post it in the previous one?"

Relax Honor. I wasn't talking to YOU when I said that, I was addressing the second comment here that was posted last night.

....Hence, the arrow /\...I assumed that was self-explanatory.

I would never speak to you like that on your own blog. Come on, do you really think that I would tell you to "get your fact straight" when we all know that you have inside sources? ;)I love ya man! You are one of the best Disney bloggers on the Internet.

PLEASE, PLEASE! respond so I know that you understand.

And please take no offense, I am not insulting you, I am just suggesting that once people heard this info, they went nuts and people still can't let it go, people have been bringing it up in every new topic now, like in your post about the new TS3 trailer and whatnot.Just because people know about it (before it was mentioned on facebook) doesn't necessarily mean that its going to change anything.

Compared to "Rapunzel", "Tangled" sounds pretty inferior, but when I've mentioned to some friends of mine, they didn't think it was such a big deal.One of them even observed that "Tangled" has a double meaning, one, the literal sense meaning tangled hair, and two, being tangled up in trouble.

Yes, its disappointing, since the title would have been better off as "Rapunzel" but since the title nothing to do with the Disney's Rapuzel story being bad or not, is this REALLY a big deal in the longrun? Like you said, "The Great Mouse Detective" is a good movie, despite the fact that it has a rather unimaginative title compared to the original one.

..Yes, I LOVE Lasseter and I'm glad that he is working to address story issues with Cars 2. Like you said, this is good news. Like you said, just some routine lamp maintenance.

"What's next? Monsters 2, anyone? Will we ever see another original film from up north? Or have they lost that amazing spark?"

Guess you haven't heard of Bear and the Bow and Newt. They're ramping up production to 1 movie 1 year, then two movies the following year, then 1, etc. Takes less time to develop a movie when you already have a group of characters. Now I'm not saying that we're going to be getting a bunch of sequels, but there is a possibility with this new format we might.

"There's no doubt that the sequel is being made simply because of its merchandising possibilities. Little boys love Cars, and that's great. But I won't be seeing the sequel."

How about Cars made so much money off of merchandise they were allowed to make movies like WALL-E and Up! which is something I've been told. And even if Cars is their weakest film (I disagree) tell me what animated film that came out the same year was better.

I look forward to the Disney and Pixar releases year after year. Despite the sour news that sometimes proceeds and follows. The stories, the animation, the music and score are always something exciting to discover.

Rapunzel and Toy Story 3 are those two films this year. And I cannot wait for Toy Story 3 this summer, and I am so excited for the trailer and release of Tangled. The movies to follow over the next few years I am equally stoked for.

So no more complainingI have faith in these two studios. Any year that sees a new movie released by DIsney Animation and PIxar Animation is sure to be a good year.

Wow, a bunch of negative people over at the TAG blog. The thing about Newt is news to me, but I'm not crushed about it. New they tried a new director over the summer, but that guy has been busy UP to his ears lately.

That Floyd Norman guy just won't SHUT UP. He continually inserts himself into Disney and Pixar stories as if he KNEW somehing or had anything relevant to say (or worked at Pixar very briefly a long time ago according to people on the guild blog). Being around a long time doesn't give him or anyone the right to leak what's probably confidential information. His need for attention comes across as pretty pathetic. Especially when he has nothing to do with the subjects at hand.

I don't care if these storys are true or not. I'm glad they're doing what it takes to make these movies as good as possible.

I'm still sorry about the confusion from earlier, and don't worry, I'm not here to cause problems. But I have to say, after thinking more about this, I am confused as to why there was an issue in the first place...

Considering the fact that you have to approve comments before they are seen, that means that you had to approve comment #2, So I assume that means you read it before you saw my comment (#3). With that in mind, I imagine that it should have been obvious that my Rapunzel statement was meant to address comment #2 and not you.

After all, comment #2 was not only off topic, but they were completely off base, they thought that Rapunzel had story problems, so I was just responding to them, and telling them that they were wrong. I only starting addressing you after I mentioned your name.

Admittedly, my tone was pretty harsh, but as I mentioned before, I was sick of people harping on the same old thing...You aren't the only person who can be in a bad mood you know. ;) :)

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, this is behind us. You don't need to respond, I just needed to get this off of my chest.

If John has to be directly involved fixing everything, what happens when he is no longer able to micromanage? I love the guy but he has to build in the capacity in people under him or else Disney will suffer another reign of mediocrity like we had with Eisner/Pressler/etc. in the future.

And please John get on a diet and exercise routine that will keep you around for a long time!

No. He got an award. That doesn't make him a "legend. He got it because he was still alive. Doesn't mean he did anything of consequence at the Disney studio other than surviving longer. He's an active self promoter (nothing wrong with that), but they were giving that "legend" award to just about ANYONE for a while.

In the animation industry--especially in L.A.--he's not considered a "legend."

And he's shooting off his mouth about confidential information. He should shut up.

He's a card-carrying Guild union-stooge and maybe just doesn't like the fact that Mr. Fun hangs out at places that don't necessarily support the Union anymore. (AnimationNation, etc) Bitterness sucks, don't it?

Floyd would be the first person to tell you he doesn't feel like a legend but he knows the business. Not many people can say they worked with Walt Disney and Milt Kahl directly without any reprimands. Most importantly, Floyd is a wonderful human being who is still passionate about animation and storytelling long past the time when most give up. Sometimes his passion gets him in to trouble but at least he's not afraid to speak up and use his real name on a post. If you speak with him in person, you'll realize that Floyd's only agenda is to remind people what Disney was like when he started in the 1950's. Good thing since I don't know how many of us were alive then.

That Floyd Norman guy just won't SHUT UP. He continually inserts himself into Disney and Pixar stories as if he KNEW somehing or had anything relevant to say (or worked at Pixar very briefly a long time ago according to people on the guild blog). Being around a long time doesn't give him or anyone the right to leak what's probably confidential information. His need for attention comes across as pretty pathetic. Especially when he has nothing to do with the subjects at hand.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who sees Mr. Norman as a bit of an @$$.

And, Floyd, just because you have "the benefit of ages" does not give you the right to be a bastard.

I'm not exactly sure what I did to earn the title, "bastard." I've always been respectful of my friends and colleagues even if we disagree. Plus, I have no personal agenda except to share my love and respect for this marvelous medium.

However, if having opinions you disagree with make me a "bastard," then so be it.

Guys, just so you know, if you want to disagree with Floyd that's fine. If you want to agree with him, that's fine too. But please do so in a civil manner. There is no need to drop the F-bomb and other words to get your point across. I don't mind publishing differing opinions, but be mindful of how you say what you say.